🔗 Share this article

India's surprising 0-2 series loss to the Proteas in the recently concluded red-ball series has left the team reeling.

Just days ago, the visiting team gave India their heaviest defeat in terms of runs, defying expectations. It marked the Proteas' maiden series victory in India in two and a half decades and the host nation's second defeat at home in just a year after a 12-year invincible streak.

The momentum built over the previous half-year has all but vanished and the careers of several players - including head coach the coach - are now uncertain.

Early Optimism Disappears

The emerging side's commendable display in the UK this season, under a fresh leadership, pointed to a seamless changeover after the near-simultaneous exits of key players R Ashwin, Sharma, and Virat Kohli.

An easy 2-0 triumph over West Indies at the beginning of the home season strengthened that view, before the South Africans came and inflicted a fell blow.

The home side were a tad unfortunate that leader Shubman Gill suffered an injury very early in the opening Test and was ruled out in the contest. But that neither explains nor absolves the side of the terribly sub-par showing in each match against South Africa.

Several established players suffered, and a few members hoping for long red-ball careers were shown as still inadequate - in skill or mindset - for the Test cricket.

Concerning History

It was the second series sweep in home conditions suffered by India in just more than a year. In 2024, little-fancied the Kiwis had secured a staggering 3-0 triumph which effectively cost the hosts a berth in the Test championship finale.

The fresh failure to the Proteas risks harming the team's hopes of making the decider of this edition too.

From number three in the WTC table prior to the contest, India have dropped to the fifth spot. Although nine more Tests are remaining, a majority are against Australia. Typically, competing on home turf would be a major plus - even against the strong Australian side. However the disasters against the Kiwis and South Africa provide no basis for such assurance.

Roots of the Decline

The national team's vulnerability in the longer format has been badly exposed. Nevertheless, the reason the team have fared so badly in Tests on home soil lately is remains puzzling.

Since the turn of the century, the Indian cricket team were regarded as invincible in red-ball cricket at home. In hot, humid conditions and on tracks that helped spin and suited their batsmen and bowlers, the hosts faced little challenge. The odd series defeat, such as in the 2012-13 season against the English, was seen as an exception.

Currently, India seem vulnerable on home turf.

Against the Kiwis in 2024 and South Africa currently, India were beaten at their own game. The tracks they curated to suit their strengths failed miserably, as rivals used them more effectively, surpassing India's batsmen and bowlers when it mattered most.

What Happened?

Certain analysts propose that India is struggling in home conditions because local wickets have been modified from turners to fast tracks to get cricketers ready to do well in foreign conditions.

Some point out that the Indian Premier League (IPL), in which numerous foreign cricketers participate, has taken away the surprise and difficulty subcontinental pitches would challenge them with in the past.

Although there is some truth in both analyses, it still does not explain why the side's results on home soil have witnessed such a sharp fall.

Various Shortcomings

Many past stars identify a complex, multi-headed problem, not only a few causes.

Critics and players have highlighted several failings after India's embarrassing defeat to the Proteas: not respecting the foe, poor preparation, questionable picks, arrogance, frequent changes of the playing XI, and prioritising white-ball over red-ball cricket.

This was clear in the performances of the team.

Players such as Pant and Yashasvi Jaiswal, of whom great things were anticipated, suffered for their carelessness, while Sai Sudarshan, Reddy, and Jurel - who were aiming to establish their spot in the side - fell short in skill and mindset, suffering the consequences for their nonchalant approach.

Just a few - Ravindra Jadeja, Jasprit Bumrah, Kuldeep, Mohammed Siraj and Washington Sundar - did justice to their skill and fame - but not sufficiently to secure victories.

Coaching Scrutiny

The post-mortem also included just the players - the selection panel and support staff were also questioned, fuelled by upset followers and vocal past stars. Under focus of the examination was head coach Gambhir.

In his post-series press